Новости regarding interventions for production-linked support for fruit and vegetable crops

On 22 December, the State Fund “Agriculture” (SFA) published standard electronic inventories for the documents proving the marketing of the produced output and for the documents for certified and/or standard seeds and/or planting material required under the Interventions for coupled income support for fruit and vegetable plantations for Campaign 2023.

Applicants under the interventions Coupled income support for fruit – (IP), Coupled income support for vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, gherkins and aubergines) – (IZ-DKKP), Coupled income support for vegetables (pepper) – (IZ-P), Coupled income support for vegetables (onions and garlic) and potatoes for starch – (IZ-KLCH), Coupled income support for vegetables (carrots, cabbage, watermelons and melons) – (IZ-MZDP), Coupled income support for greenhouse production – (IOP), must prove the marketing of the yields obtained from the declared areas and the quantities marketed by crops for the period 01.02.2023 – 31.01.2024.

This is laid down in the provisions of Article 33 of Ordinance No 3 of 10.03.2023 on the conditions and procedures for the implementation of interventions in the form of direct payments included in the Strategic Plan, on checks, reductions of payments and the procedure for imposing administrative sanctions.

New for Campaign 2023 is the completion of a standard inventory and the submission of documents for purchased certified and standard seeds and purchased planting material, pursuant to Article 34 and § 8 of the Final Provisions of Ordinance No 3 of 10.03.2023, by farmers who have applied for the following interventions:

•    Coupled income support for fruit plantations until they enter into bearing (IP-N) for plantations established after 14.03.2023;

•    Coupled income support for vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, gherkins and aubergines) – (IZ-DKKP);

•    Coupled income support for vegetables (pepper) (IZ-P);

•    Coupled income support for vegetables (onions and garlic);

•    Coupled income support for vegetables (carrots, cabbage, watermelons and melons) (IZ-MZDP);

•    Coupled income support for greenhouse production (IOP).

When preparing the inventory of documents, applicants shall complete the relevant electronic template table applicable for Campaign 2023. The accounting documents listed therein must comply with the requirements of the regulatory framework. All particulars required for carrying out the necessary administrative checks must be entered in the electronic tables. They must correspond to the farmers’ registration in IACS (natural or legal person/sole trader).

In order to receive a subsidy, farmers must have marketed the quantities of fruit and/or vegetables specified in the regulatory framework, as well as have submitted documents for purchased seed and planting material for the areas declared under the respective intervention listed above.

The templates have been published and can be downloaded from the website of the State Fund “Agriculture”. They are located in the respective sections of the interventions for Coupled support for fruit and vegetables.

Two new operational programmes under interventions in the “Fruit and vegetables” sectors from the Strategic Plan for the period 2023 – 2027

The SFA has also approved two new operational programmes of producer organisations in the fruit and vegetables sectors under the Strategic Plan for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas of the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2023 – 2027. The programmes amount to over BGN 4 million and will start on 1 January 2024 for a period of 3 years.

Under these programmes, producer organisations will implement interventions aimed at the purchase of tangible and intangible assets, as well as those related to objectives in the field of agri-environment and climate and to research and development activities in the field of sustainable production methods.

The financial assistance from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and from the national budget under these programmes amounts to over BGN 2.355 million. Funding from the national budget is provided for producer organisations located in regions where the degree of organisation of producers is significantly below the Union average.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has publicly launched a new specialised website for the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development (SPARD) 2023 – 2027.

The website, which is still under development, will provide detailed information on the new Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union until 2027. The site will cover the entire range of topics on direct payments and eco-schemes, investments in rural areas, market measures, the wine and apiculture programme. The aim is to facilitate public access to comprehensive information collected in one place, as well as to increase the awareness of current and future farmers and all stakeholders regarding support in the “Agriculture” sector.

For greater awareness and transparency, a section has been created for European and national legislation, other strategic documents and information materials. A direct link has been established to the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System in Bulgaria (AKIS).

The website is user-oriented and will operate on all platforms and mobile devices. The address of the site is https://www.sp2023.bg/index.php/bg/